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(Page 3 of 17) Cry for the Wolf, Chapter 3. by Richard WalkerBesides the which, with such learned friends as thy noble, generous self, so weightily endowed with the careful custodianship of great collections of learned tracts, I shall never want for reading material to while away the occasional evening, and so slowly continue my further edification. There is, as well, the matter of my wardship to the crown which draws to a close and at the end of which I must produce for the Crown a husband who can perform the military duties once filled by mine own dear father, else lose my family's fief.
And thus have I resolved to marry.
I can e'en now see the marks of concern cross thy dear countenance, and must protest to you that I am well aware of the great gravity of this decision, and I here take every precaution to reassure you that it was not easily made. Of men from whom to choose in marriage, but two remain of what I now see were once a great many suitors, the two I mentioned previously, 'lest I should seek a husband in the far north country or Albion, or among the heathen warrior lords of neighboring Enladdis, as is the fashion now after the King's marriage to his Enladdian princess, the Queen, or even send my agents to find a likely candidate outside the country and beyond our island, but none of these things am I willing to do. I feel sure that you will have heard of both these men, both knights of good repute, no less for the quality of their lives than for the extent of their learning and their keen minds. And here allow me to earnestly say that I have learned these things of my own and not from the tales of those who exaggerate and bandy words about lightly.
The first of these is the bright and bold tow-head knight of the Tarranid Order, from the region of Fisher, one Sir Fossen, with whom I believe thou art acquainted, if in passing. The other I am sure thou hast met in earnest, the quiet heir of the Count de Monet, his bastard Sir Edwund Phyphe, also of the Tarranid Order, as is his father the Count. These good knights are both very dear in my sight, but I must confess that only Fossen lightens my heart and diverts me as is my frequent need. While I know that Edwund's love for me is true, he is so often too sombre a character for me to daily bear, and I bethink me also the weight of responsibility that would come to rest upon me as his Contessa at the passing of his father the Count - Heavens Forfend! - what with the subtle politicking, the verbal fencing, and the constant social rigors of life at court would, I think me, be so great as to outweigh the obvious wealth and advantage to my mother's and father's kin, our cousins, and their people. I have no wish for higher estate than I now possess, and certainly no wish to be used as a pawn in bringing the Highlands back within the fold of the Crown's grace. I'll not marry any of Father's or Mother's distant Highland cousins, no wish to be a pawn used to bind ancient Albion more tightly under the graces of the Crown. Neither will I yield myself to any pasty-faced dissembling courtier or any tender and untried Knight of the Bath.
At this juncture, however, I would have you know that I wish with great discretion to speak to Fossen about this matter before I have any other approach him in earnest for negotiations of terms and contract, which for his part must be lenient, as his order is sworn to poverty, and so I pray that we will speak or at least correspond on this matter as soon as may be before you take any steps one way or another.
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